Morning Set

Started the morning with a bad one, tried to tie using a shad dart head and.....well, there was no need to take a picture. Not too good.
Got serious and picked chartreuse for the head color and started with a 3/16 with a 1/0 hook and collar.
Checked the eye clear and inserted in vise, bent hook point up a bit as is now standard procedure.
Here's what came out the other end after about 30 minutes:

Attachment 425021

Used 400 D Red thread, Cerise Flash, Chartreuse fake Bucktail, Cerise Chenille.


Decided to do another with 1/8 round head but got off track thinking the flash was Lavender, oh well, different look.
Moved to another 1/8 with triangular head and # 2 hook. Got back on track but used no chenille due to this head having no collar and deciding on a solid red tread collar.

Here's the trio tied this morning:

Attachment 425027

Similar but different for sure.
Will they make the lineup?

Yeah, they will fish.

Great looking ties. Be hard to keep the fish off those

Nice. They will fish for sure!

Thanks guys.

The only mandatory criteria at the end of a tie is function. If it will fish, it'll do.
Decent looks is next, followed down the list somewhere by pretty.

I've been trying to get into my fish mind zone when tying and adding material and features to accomplish something for certain conditions and moods of the fish.

I usually like the looks of recent jigs so that is a bonus.
Warts and all.

But hey, the warts are less frequent nowadays.:cheers2

I used to do pretty well with a red thread white tail thread neck jig similar to your bottom photo.
I fish a lot of muddy stained white and red are good colors there especially when they are feeding on small shad

Sweet! They’ll sore lip em for sure.

Thanks Buck.

Jack, I most likely have some with red and white like that but this evening I will make sure.

Your mention of water color and bait size reminds me to keep varying ties for those conditions. The lake here varies a lot in clarity so that definitely needs to be considered.

Both factors are on my mind when at the vise along with sink rate, tail width, flash, bulk, and others.

I've been trying my hand at what some people call 'gnats'. Bigger body with light weights.

Caught my first fish on one yesterday that was about 1/16 oz and tied on a streamer hook.
That idea allows for a large body that does not sound like a brick hitting the water when flipping to fish.
The idea to start with was to use them in open water for larger fish that may be spooky near the surface. With a 10-12' rod it is a bit like fly fishing. There is now an 11' ACC dedicated 'fly rod' in my boat.
Something different anyway.

Red and white evening set:

Attachment 425071

Make it a set:

Attachment 425072